Robert Rivera

Robert Rivera – Gourd Sculptor and Visionary Artist

“I am not the first person to recognize the beauty of gourds. I get a lot of inspiration from the Native American people.” – Robert Rivera

Robert Rivera transforms the humble gourd into fine art—each piece a reflection of spirit, culture, and imagination. Inspired by the natural beauty and traditions of the Southwest, Rivera sees every gourd as a living canvas waiting to reveal its story.

Drawing from ancient Anasazi, Hohokam, and Mimbres designs, his creations include medicine men chanters, Navajo warriors, Hopi butterfly maidens, and storytellers with intricate detail and motion. Rivera’s artistry is defined by both craftsmanship and curiosity—each gourd is stitched, etched, scorched, and adorned with natural materials such as yucca fiber, turquoise, horsehair, raffia, heishi, shells, and feathers.

Possibly the first artist to elevate gourds into a fine art medium within the contemporary Southwest movement, Rivera’s work bridges ancient inspiration with modern vision. Each sculpture celebrates the transformation of a simple form into an object of power, beauty, and timeless symbolism.

Black Arrow presents this extraordinary collection of Robert Rivera’s gourd sculptures—where imagination, tradition, and spirit meet.